Wire-fence stretcher.



PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

I. M. WARNER.

WIRE FENCE STRETGHER.

T JIM Q7367,

. Inventor I l I I Attorneys Hhv e HHV AHH 1 %m y b b w Mm A .lllh mWitnesses UNITED srariis ATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC M. WARNER, OF HARVARD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK O.

BOISE, OF UNION CITY, MICHIGAN.

WIRE-FENCE STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1906.

iippllcatlon filed October 5, 1905. Serial No. 281,440-

To all whom it hwy concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo M. WVARNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Harvard, in the county of McHenry and State of Illinois,haveinvented a new and useful VVire- Fence Stretcher, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to devices for stretching wire fences, moreparticularly woven-wire fences, and has for its object to improve theconstruction and increase the efficiency of devices of this character.

I/Vith these and other obj ectsin view, which will appear as the natureof the invention is better understood, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which cor responding parts are denoted by like designatingcharacters, is illustrated the preferred form of the embodiment of theinvention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, itbeing understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minordetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from theprinciple or sac rificing any of the advantages of this invention withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device applied. Fig. 2 isa plan view, enlarged and partly in section, of thecombined chain-gripand ratchet-wheels. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail, enlarged, of theoperating-lever.

In the improved device is comprised a bar 10, having means, such asbolts 11,for clamping to the fence, (represented at 12.) Bearing uponopposite sides of the bar 10 are arms 13 14, coupled rearwardly of thebar by a bolt 15, having a roller 16 thereon and serving as a spacer tomaintain the arms at a certain predetermined distance apart and preventthem binding upon the bar 10. The arms 13 14 are extended inwardly, asat 17 18, for bearing against the face of the bar 10 opposite the facewhich the bearing-roller 16 engages, the object to be hereinafterexplained. Journaled through and projecting beyond the contracted sideportions of the members 13 14 is a shaft 19, and engaging the shaftoutside the members 13 14 is a U-shaped guard or stay 20, the stay beingfurther supported by a transverse bolt 21, passing through the sidemembers adjacent to the inwardlyeXtending portions 17 18. Mounted uponthe shaft 19 is a combined chain-grip and ratchet member consisting of acontracted central portion 22, having spaced peripheral recesses 23 forreceiving the links of a chain and with ratchet members 24 25 at thesides, the ratchet members being constructed separately from the otherparts and arranged to bear against the sides of the central portion 22.The members 22, 24, and 25 are rigidly coupled to the shaft 19, as by akey 26, so as to rotate therewith and with each other. The bolt 21 isutilized to carry spaced pawls 27 28 for engaging the ratchet -teeth 2425 and maintained in spaced position by a spacertube 29. By this meanswhen a chain, as at 30, is passed around the central portion 22, withits links bearing in the recesses 23, the teeth-like projections 31between the recesses come between the links and effectually prevent thechain from slipping, no matter how severe the strains may be applied.

The chain employed is of the ordinary welded-link form and when disposedaround the gripping member every alternate link lies in the recesses,while the remaining alternate links rest in the space between therecesses,

with the ends of the recess engaging links bearing against theprojections 31. The chain is thus firmly held from slipping whendisposed around the grip member and will be carried around with the samewhen rotated.

The intermediate recessed portion 22 being in one piece and the ratchetportions being in separate pieces and all the pieces rigidly coupled tothe shaft 19 can be inexpensively manufactured and combined, and whenone part is broken or Worn can be easily renewed without the necessityfor discarding the Whole device. Thus the life of the device ismaterially lengthened and the value and efficiency therebycorrespondingly increased.

The inward projections 17 18, bearing against one face of the clamp-bar10, and the bolt 15 and its roller 16, bearing against the opposite ofthe bar, with the weight of the chain-grip and ratchet members all atone side of the bar, exert a downward force thereon, and thus pinch theframe of the grip- I vention and is provided with two clips 35 36,

spaced apart and formed in U shape, with clamp-bolts 37 38 couplingtheir ends, the bolts bearing against opposite sides of the lever. Thelever 34 is provided with wearplates 39 40 upon its opposite edges andwith recesses 41 42 to receive the bolts 37 38 and with caps 43 44 overthe bolts opposite the recesses, the caps and wear-plates secured inplace by clamp-bolts 45. Coupled to the clip is a grab-hook 46, andcoupled to the clip 36 is a grab-hook 47.

The chain 30 is connected to the post 33 or other stationary object orstructure by inclosing the same and coupling the grab-hook 2 5 32 to oneof the links in the body of the chain and the chain passed around thegrip member 22 and coupled to the grab-hook 47 ,while the grab-hook 46is coupled to the chain between the lever and the post 33. This places30 the lever in position so that when moved in one direction a strongleverage will be exerted upon the chain to draw the ends toward eachother and rotate the grip member by the action, and thus draw theclamp-bar 10, to-

5 gether with the fence 12, coupled thereto,

toward the post 33, and thus stretch the fence. When the stroke of thelever is completed, the strain is released; but the length of chainbetween the post 33 and the clamp member will not be released, as thecombined action of the recesses 22, projections 31, and the ratchets andpawls hold the chain wherever the movement of the lever leaves it. Thegrab-hook 47 is then replaced 5 in an advanced position and the actionrepeated, and so on, as often as required. By this means the fence maybe intermittently stretched to any required extent within the xx rangeof the lever movement, the clamp mem- 50 ber 10 being moved along thefencing material as required.

The device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured,is strong and durable, and operates efliciently for the 5 5 purposesdescribed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In afence-stretching device, a clamp member having means for attachment tothe fence material to be stretched, spaced bars disposed opposite sidesof said clamp member and extended inwardly and contracted intermediatetheir ends for bearing upon one face of said clamp member, a boltcoupling said spaced bars and bearing upon the opposite face of saidclamp member, a clamp-bolt coupling the contracted portions of saidspaced bars, a shaft journaled through the contracted portions of saidspaced bars and extended beyond the same, a grip member having spacedperipheral recesses for receiving the links of a chain and carried bysaid shaft-ratchets rotative with said grip member, pawls carried bysaid clamp-bolt and engaging said ratchets, a U-shaped guard, embracingsaid side members at their contracted ends and provided with aperturesfor re ceiving the extended ends of said shaft and through which thepawl-carrying clamp-bolt passes, means for connecting one endof saidchain to a stationary structure and means for applying a strain to saidchain to cause rotation of said chain-grip and ratchets.

2. In a fence-stretching device, a clamp member having means forconnecting to the fence material to be stretched, a frame movablydisposed upon said clamp member, a grip member having spaced peripheralrecesses for receiving the links of a chain and rotatively mounted insaid frame, ratchets rotative with said grip member, pawls carried bysaid frame and engaging said ratchets, a chain having means at one endfor detachably coupling to a stationary structure and bearing aroundsaid grip member, a lever having reversely-disposed clips movablyarranged thereon, a grab-hook attached to one of said clips for engagingsaid chain between the lever and the stationary structure, and agrab-hook connected to the other clip for engaging the chain between thelever and chaingrip member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ISAAC M. WVARNER.

Witnesses:

H. D. CrgUMB, R. G. EHLE.

